Abstract

Diffuse calcification of many lumbar and thoracic intervertebral disks has been thought to be highly suggestive, if not pathognomonic, of ochronosis. A patient with widespread intervertebral disk calcification that was unexplained during life, was found at autopsy to have primary amyloidosis with infiltration of the intervertebral disks by both amyloid deposits and calcification. This association has not been noted previously. Amyloidosis may be responsible for diffuse intervertebral disk calcification.

In December 1962, a 63-year-old Puerto Rican musician was noted to have calcification of several thoracic intervertebral disks on routine chest Xray. In 1965 an upper gastrointestinal contrast X-ray examination, performed